Bag making machine



Nov. 4, 1941.- H M.y RUTTER BAG MAKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 29, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 4,'1941. H. M. RuTrER A BAG MAKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 29, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 4, `1941.

H.-M. BUTTER BAG MAKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 29, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 .m .man 1m r. n n n e r v u A Nm o nm M H Nov. 4, 1941.

H. M. Ru'rrR BAG' MAKING ,MACHINE Filed Jan. 29A, 1940 4 Sheets-Shee't 4v u W er JR M. H

Patented Nov. 4, 1941 UNITE STATES BAG lMAKING MACHINE Harvey Milton Rutter, Toronto, Ontario, Canada,

assignor to Jason A. Haugh., Toronto, Ontario,

Canada Application January 29, 1940, Serial No. 316,111

13 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for mak' ing bags from thermo-plastic materials and particularly to\a machine for making bags from a transparent material known under the trade name of Pliolm.

One of the objects of the-present invention is that of providing a machine which will manufacture bags from a roll of material in a continuous manner wherein a tube of any desired cross section is first formed and portions are cut of! and sealed at one end and wherein the bag shaping unit, sealing units and cutting unit incorporate novel features necessary for the proper handling of this material.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means of forming the material into a tube in a much shorter space than heretofore required, an'd at the same time to provide means of quickly altering the size and shape of the tube.

When more than one thickness of material such as Pliofilm is cut, there is a tendency toward permanent adhesion of the sheets at the adjacent edges and I have found that it is not practical to utilize the methods of cutting the bags by the means heretofore employed. Accordingly, I have incorporated certain novel features which will be described in detail, whereby the cutting is done without this objectionable adhesion.'

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanical movement for opel ating the bag sealing and vcutting mechanism whereby' a'plurality of different lengths of bags may be formed with the same machine. In the following specifieaton this part of the bag machine will be referred to as the multi-sizer.

As a number of bag users require printed matter on the finishedbag, and as it is customary to print theJ sheet material prior to its being formed into a bag, it is necessary to have the cutting and sealing mechanism so `timed that the bag-end sealing and cutting will be done at the correct intervals in order that the printed matter will appear in its proper position on the finished bag. However, in spacing the printing on an elastic material or inmonstructing any mechanical movement, it is not practical to obtain absolute accuracy. It is, therefore,` still another object of f .this invention to provide the'machine-with4 a manual adjustment whereby the necessary correction of the timing of the end sealing and cutting means with .the printed matter may beachieved from time to time, as may appear necessary, during any particular run.

Other and further features of will be pointed out in which is a full, clear and exact description of the construction and operation of the machine constituting the present invention.

yFigure 1 is a top plan view of the bag making machine constructed in accordance with this in- Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view Y taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1 on a larger scale to show details ofthe cutting mechanism.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the bag Shaper taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail fragmentary view of the bag shaping meansand the means for seall ing the lapped edges of the tube.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the shaper.

`Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view on the line 8 8, Figure 6.

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail fragmentary view of the bag shaping means wherein provision is made for forming a gusset type bag.

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line lli-I0 of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the means for adjusting the bag-end sealing means.

Figure 12 is a` plan view of the mechanical movement for driving the various moving parts of the apparatus, said movement to be hereinafter termed the multi-sizer.

Figure 13 is a side elevation of the multi-sizer.

Figure 14 is a plan view of a at type bag.

Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view on line I5- I5 of Figure 14 showing the seam where the lapped edges of the sheet are joined.

' Figure 16 is a plan view of a gusset type bag.

Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view on the line I l-K-ll of Figure 16. Figure 18 is an elevation of the side opposite to that shown in Figure 2. 1 Y

Figure 19 is a fragmentary plan of the bag shaping means on an enlarged scale to show details not clearly visible in the other views.

Like characters of reference 'refer to like'parts throughout the specification and drawings.

various component parts of the bag making mechthe; invention anism includes a pair of spaced bases I0, Il conthe following specication,

below the pivot of the inafter described and for nected together by a pair of spaced-apart horizontal members |2, I3 `which carry the multi-sizer hereinbefore mentioned and to be hereinafter more particularly described. The right hand for the bearings base (Figure 1) (hereinafter referred to as the 5 front base) carries a superstructure I4 which supports the means for sealing one end of the bag and also the means for cutting the bag from the sheet material. The left hand base I (hereinafter referred to as the rear base) has mounted thereon a superstructure I5 which carries a number of rollers for the preliminary unwinding of the sheet material and the mechanism for performing the first step in forming the bag. Sus' pended between anditures I4, I5 are spaced cross members I6 which are located above and parallel to the members I2, II, the .cross members I6 serving as a support for the mechanism for shaping the bag and seallng the side edges of the sheet material at the 2 completion of the shaping operation. Extending upwardly from the superstructure I5 are two spaced-apart posts I'I.

'I'he rear corner pieces I9, 2li project. above the top of the base and are each provided with a bracket 2l; Carried by each bracket is a plvoted arm 22, these arms forming a pair for sup porting a shaft 22 upon which is mounted a roller 24. In order that arms 22 may be swung 3' on their pivots, the purpose of which will be made more apparent in a subsequent'part of the description. an adjustment Is provided consisting of a quadrant-shaped rack. 25 which is fixed to one of thearms 22 and actuated by a worm manually rotatable by handle 21. Immediately arms 22 and carried by brackets 2| is a roller 26. Carried by the base directly below the roller 23 is a roll 29 of sheet carried by the superstrucmaterial from which the bagsare made and 40 f of the kind described.

Except where'sneciiically mentioned, all of the hereilibefore mentioned rollers and those hereinafter mentioned lay in a horizontaly plane and are parallel to each other. 4

. The superstructure I5 carries a pair of rollers 3| ,32. one directly above the other and in cone tact with each other. 'I'he lower roller v32 is driven by the power unit 33 in the manner herewhich carries the roller 32 is extended through the superstructure and is 'provided with a bevel gear; 34 which meshes with and is driven byV a bevel gear 35 mounted on the top of a vertical shaft 36 which is journalled'in bearings 31, 38.

Carried by the superstructure |5 on the side` opposite to the one which supports the roller24, is a' roller 39 which is substantially at the same elevation as the upper roller 3 I.

Suspended between'and carried by the posts are two rollers 40, 4|, the roller 4| being at a higher elevation than the roller 40. The roller 40 is on the side of the posts which face towards the superstructure I4 and the roller 4| faces towards the rear.

, attached to a support 58.

rollers 42, 43 may be correctly 'spaced with respect to each other. an adjustment is provided I'II in which the rollers are journalled, as shown in Figure 19. Each bearing which supports the upper and lower ends of each roller respectively is sli'dably carried on shaft |66 which is threaded to receive an adjusting nut |69. Each of the cross bars 44a, 44h are provided with a pair of spaced brackets |19, each, bracket supporting one of said shafts |98. Between the upper pair of bearings I1I is a compression spring I'I2 which forces each bearing against its respective adjusting nut |69. A similar compression spring (not shown) is provided for the lower pair of bearings.

'I'he ilrst step in shaping the material is performed by a triangular table 45 which acts in commotion with the vertical rollers. The base of the table is suspended between the posts and supported by brackets 46 carried by the posts II. Th table is also provided with a central rib for the purpose of reinforcement. In the present embodiment, it is necessary for the base of the table to be at a higher elevation than the apex and for this purpose the base of the table is mounted at the same elevation as the roller 4| and approximately at the same elevation as the upper end of the rollers 42, 43. The table extends from the posts |`I to the rollers 42, 43, the apex of the table being located centrally between the rollers 42, 43 'at approximately the lower end thereof.

'I'he second step in the shaping operation is performed by shaper 48 which is fo'rmed of two triangular-shaped plates 49,- 50, which are held ln spaced relationship' to a triangular-shaped rib 59a, the apex of the plates being located centrally between the vertical rollers 42, 43. Ihe rib 50a, which has its widest part adjacent the said rollers, passes between the rollers and is The ends of the plates 49, 59 adjacent the rollers 42, 43 are'spaced apart in:v a vertical direction a distance equal to one-half the width of the sheet material. 'I'he two plates converge together at the end indicated by numeral is. the width of the end 59 in .a horizontal direction being slightly less than this purposeethe shaft 50 top plate 49 is provided with an.overlying guide 5|, the purpose of which willV be clear in the description of the operation of the machine. Ad-V jacent the end 59 is a pair of vertically adjustable members 52, 52a, one of said members being carried on bracket 53 which is .secured to one of the cross members I6, midway -between bracket 44 and superstructure I4 and the member 52a on bracket 53a similarly ylocated on the other cross 65 The means for shaping the sheet material into a the vertical rollers being located centrally between the two cross members I6. In order that the 7 member 16./ In order that the members s2, m

may be adjusted vertically, the bolt 54 which holds each member in place is passed through a slot 55 formed in each of the said members and lone edge of each memberA is formed with a rack 56 which is engaged by a manually rotatable pinion 51 carried on the brackets 53, 53a, respectively.

Extending between members 52 is a shaft 60 which has one-end projecting beyond one of the members 52 and has mounted thereon a pinion 6|', a sprocket Bla, which drives pinion 6|, and

an arm 62 which is swingably mountedthereon y between the pinion 6| and the member 52. The free end oi' the arm 62 carries a sleeve 63 into which is inserted a rotatablevstub shaft 64 which` has mounted thereon a wheel-shaped electrically vjustment of the bearings structure.

heated sealing unit 65, the sealing unit being aligned with the longitudinal axis of the shaper 48. The stub shaft 64 projects beyond the sleeve and has mounted thereon a pinion 66 which is of the same size as the pinion 6| and in mesh therewith. In Figure 2, the sealing unit is shown in its sealing position and in Figure 6, it is shown lifted out of the sealing position. The sealing unit is held in this last mentioned position by pawl 61 engaging in a recess formed inthe upper part of member 52, the pawl being pivotally carried on lever 68a which is secured to arm 62. As the tube will tend to adhere tothe sealing unit 65 after the lapped edges have been sealed together, a bifurcated foot |13 is carried on shaft 60 and is positioned so that the sealing unit, when in sealing position, will be between the arms-of said foot plate 49 so the plate and foot.V In order that the tube may be pressed firmly against the sealing unit during the sealing of the lapped edges, a spring |14 is secured to the underside of the plate 49, said spring projecting through. an elongated slot |15 formed in the plate 49 immediately below the sealing unit 65. In front of the end `50 is `a pair of rollers 6 8, 69 which are carried on arms 10. secured to the member 52. rotatable and has its top portion parallel to and in alignment with end 59 ofthe Shaper. The

roller 69 has'its axis of rotation in alignment with the top periphery of the roller 68.

Housed in the upper part of the superstructure I4 is a pair of rollers 1|, 12. The rear roller 1| is driven in the manner hereinafter described and also acts as the means for driving the sprocket wheel 6|a. For this purpose, the shaft on which the roller 1| is mounted is provided with a sprocket wheel 14. The driving connection between sprockets 6|a and 14 is established by means of a chain 15, an idler 16 keeping the correct tension on the chain. Roller 12 is driven by roller 1| through a pair of gears and is held in contact with it by springs. Y Y

The unit for sealing the ends of the bags is carried by the superstructure |4 immediately below the rollers 1|, 12 and includes a pair bf The roller'68 is not' passes close to a pad 94 of moistened felt so that the electrostatic charge which the material has picked up in passing through the machine will be discharged.

' Below the pad 94 is a driven roller 95 and an idler 96 (see Figure 4) which is carried on a pivoted arm 91 spring tensioned by spring 98 so as to press the idler firmly against roller 95.

10 with guide rollers 92, 93, to prevent the adhesion and spaced slightly above tube can pass between the saidv cutting edges of the knives |08,

rollers 11, 18 which are journalled in a pair of spaced and vertically adjustable bearings 19, (see Figure l1), which are adapted to slide vertically on guide rails 6|, 82. v'The vertical ad- 19,80 is effected ,by screws 83, 84 which support the bearings 19, 80 in their proper positin', eachgscrewY being extended through and above the superstructure and having mounted on the projecting part, a gear wheel 85 which meshes with a gear 86 mounted on a shaft 81 carried on the top of the super- The shaft 81 is adapted to be rotated manually and for this, purpose is provided with a crank 88.

The front roller 18 carries an electrically heated sealing unit 89 which extends the lfull length of the roller. The shaft carrying the roller 18 has mounted thereon a bevel gear 90 and the shaft carrying the roller 11 has mounted thereon a bevel gear 9|. A guide roller 92 is mounted over the rollers 11, 18 and carried by bearings 19, 80; and a guide roller 93 is mounted. below the rollers 11, 18 and carried by the bearings .mately 1/8" The roller and idler 96 vmaintain the fiattened tube under an even tension and cooperate of the tube to the electrically heated sealing unit 89. A vertical drive shaft 99 is mounted on the right hand side of the superstructure `|4 (Figure 3) and carries a bevel gear |00 meshing with a bevel gear |0| mounted on the shaft of the roller 1|; a bevel gear |02 which meshes with the bevel gear 9|; a bevel gear |03 which meshes with a bevel gear |04 carried on the shaft of the roller 9'5 and at its lower end a bevel gear |05.

Immediately below the roller 95 isthe mechanism fonutting the formed bags from each other and includes a steel roller |06 (see Figure 4) which is mounted on anti-friction bearings and a rotating shaft |01 which carries knives |08. It has been previously explained that, owing to the natural adhesionof the material, it is not practical to use the means heretofore employed f-or cutting. It is, therefore, proposed to provide a facing for the roller |06 which will not injure the edge of the knives and which will have sufficient density to provide a suitable surface against which the bags can be cut without applying excessive pressure. A medium weight cardboard is a suitable material for this purpose and there is provided a roll |09 of sheet cardboard indicated by numeral ||0 which passes over the roller |06 presenting one of its surfaces to the the cardboard being rewound, as used, on a rewind roll The roll is driven by a friction wheel ||2, which is so adjusted as to maintain a constant tension on the roll whereby the cardboard between the roller |06 and the rewind roll will be kept taut. Intermediate between the ref |06, the cardboard -the cardboard tightly against the roller ||4 and vcause the cardboard to be pulled'over the |06 during the cutting operation and thencon-` roller tinue the movement of the cardboard approxiafter the completion of each endsealing andV cutting operation. It is further pointed out that the paddle ||5 rotates synchronously with the knives |08.

In order to reduce the amount of cardboard used at eachv cutting operation a means is provided to retract the cardboard a predetermined distance after each advance but such retraction is slightly. less than the advance, thereby presenting at each cutting operation a new surface to the cutting edge of the knives. The means for retracting comprises a pair of members |v|6 which is pivotally carried lby brackets ||1a mounted on the side of the superstructure facing the Shaper. The space between the member |`|6 is of such a width that it will straddle the cardboard and is provided, at the lower end, with a pair of spring tensioned gripping members ||1,

||8 between which the cardboard passes before ||`4. Above and slightly inl ing the member IIB to move when the paddle draws the cardboard over the rollers |00, ||4 during the sealing and the cutting operations and this movement of the member H3 continues until further with-the superstructure. At this point, the' cardboard slides between the members ||1, H3 vand continues to advance until the paddle ||5 moves specifically with reference to Figures 12 and V13. For the-purpose of describing the driving mechanism, it will be suiiicient to describe the power output of the multi-sizer for driving the` rollers 1|, 95, 11, 3|, sealing unit 65, sealer f8, puncher on 32, knives |03 and paddle I l5.

'I'he power unit 33 which in the present case is an electric motor includes a reducing geartrain housed in casing |22. A chain drive |23 establishes a driving connecti n between the gain and driven and one for the roller 32, sealer 18, knives as group "'B. The power output for group A" comprises a sprocket wheel |20 and the power ')iput for group "B comprises a sprocket wheel The power ltransmission for group A sists of a drive shaft |21 which extends horizontally the full length of the bag making machine and which isfcarried in -bearings I 28 secured to the front an'd rear bases |0, respecsprocket wheel |26 through the medium of a chain drive |29. 'I'he driving connection between the shaftv |'21 and the vertical shaft 99 -is accomplished by means of a bevel gear |30 mounted on the shaft |21 and having a driving connection with a bevel gear I3|4 which is mounted on the lower end of the shaft 39. The

movement is arrested by contact and paddle H5 to be hereinafter referred to driving connection is established between the roller 3| and the power output |23 by means ofv a vertical shaft |32 carried by the base I0, the upper end of the shaft |32 being provided with a bevel gear |33 which meshes with a bevel gear |34 carried on the end of the shaft which supports the roller 33, and the lower end of the shaft |32 being provided with a bevel gear `|35 which meshes with a bevel gear |33 mounted on the shaft I 21. o

It is pointed out that the gears 3|. |00, |0|, |02, |03, |04, |30, |3|, |36, |35, |33 and |34 have all the same tooth ratio so that the rollers which they drive will all rotate at the same rate of speed. As the portion of the shaft |21 which@ carried by the rear base |0 lies outwardly from the balance of the shaft, there is provided a pair of lgears mounted respectively on adjacent ends so that a driving connection is maintained between both portions of the shaft.

On the side opposite to the one which carries the shaft |21 is a shaft |40 which drives group B." The shaft |40 is carried by. bearings |41, |42 and extends from the base Il to approxi-4 mately the forward end of the base Il. A driving connection between the power output |39 and the shaft |40 is establishedV by means of a sprocket wheel |43 which is mounted on the shai't |40 and drive chain |44. Mounted on the shaft |40 is a bevel gear |45 which meshes with and drives a bevel gear |40 mounted on the shaft which carries the paddle IIS. The shaft which carries the paddle is also provided with a pulley wheel (not shown) adjacent to the bevel gear |46 for driving the belt ||3. A driving connection with the shaft |40 for the sealer and the I4, the shaft |41 carrying a bevel gear |48 which meshes with a bevel gear |43 carried on the shaft supporting the electrically heated sealing 41 is also provided with a bevel and permit the adjustment of the bearing The roller 32 carries a device for punching a bevel gear |51 b evel gear |58 mounted on the shaft 30, the shaft, |56 being driven from the shaft 40 by means of a 'gear Hill-mounted on the shaft |40 and which drives a'gear |60 mounted on the shaft |50 The construction and operation of the multiand drives a shaft 2|2 is a shaft y '2,261,591 sizer, which is shown in Figures 12 and 13, wi1l\ now be described;

'I'he multi-sizer is provided with an input shaft 200 which has mounted on one end thereofthe sprocket |25. At the other end of the input shaft is a train of change gears 20| which connect the shaft 200 to shaft 202. The shaft 202, by means of achain 204 drives a shaft 203, the shaft 203 carrying a wheel 205 consisting of two rigidly connected plates having three equally spaced pins 2|| near the outer edge thereof. A shaft 206 carries a standard Geneva. motion wheel 201 which is actuated by the pin 2|| carried on the wheel 205.

Ca'ied on the shaft 200 is a lever 203 which is actuated by a cam 209, The lever 203 carries a pin 2|0 which at correctly timedintervals movesA into one of the slots of the Geneva motion wheel 201 to lock the same iny position when the latter is not turning, that is, during the interval between disengagement of one of the pins 2H from a slot in the Geneva motion wheel 201 and engagement of the next pin with another slot. The multi-sizer isprovided with a shaft 2|2 which is driven by the shaft 206 through change gears 2|3, the shaft 2 I2 having mounted on its inner end a gear 2|4. Coaxial with the 2l5 which has a gear 2|3 mounted on the end adjacent the gear 2|4. outer end of the shaft 2|5 is provided with a sprocket |39 and a hand wheel 2|3. The sprocket |39, which is the power output for group B," drives the sprocket wheel |43 which is mou on the shaft |40. The hand wheel 2|3 is provided as a matter of convenience when replacing the change gears 2|3, Two circular plates 2I9 are spaced apart and rigidly connected by three equally spaced pins 222. The plates'enclose the gears 2|4, 2|5, one of the plates 2|9 being journalled on the shaft 2|2 and the other plate 2|9 being journalled on the shaft 2|5. A sprocket 220 -is xed to one of the plates 2|9 and driven from shaft 200 through chain 22|.

the pins 222 and free to revolve on the same are two gears 223 and 224 which are rigidly connected together, the gear 224 meshing with the gear 2|4 and the gear 223 meshing with thegear 2|6.

It will be seen that rotation of the shaft 200 causes a rotation of the sprocket 220 and the plates 2|9 tending to revolve gears 223, 224 about gears 2|4, 2|6. Gear 2|6,and the shaft 2|5 may remain at rest or revolve at any speed in either direction, depending on whether the gear 2|4 and the shaft 2|2 are revolving or at rest, but as long as the gear 2|4 and the shaft 2|2 are at rest, gear 2|6, shaft 2|5 and sprocket |39 will revolve at a constant speed,

It is also evident that when pin 2|0 is in one of these slots of the Geneva motion wheel 2 01, the gear 2|4 must be at rest-and that sprocket |39 must, therefore, be revolving at a constant speed, driven from the shaft 22|, sprocket 220, plate 2|9, gears 223, 224, 2|6 and shaft 2|5.

When one of the pins 2|| engages with a slot in the Geneva motion wheel 201 and pin 2|0 is retractedthe wheel 201 quarter revolution by the action of the pin 2|| and the gear 2|4 is caused to revolve an amount and in a direction determined by the change gears 2|3. Thus, change of speed of the output sprocket |39 takes place, which may either advance or retard its motion, relative tothe shaft 200.

200 through chain l ted Since the shaft 200 revolves at a constant speed, the ratio of change gears 20| will determine the frequency of the speed changes-'described above, and as also described, the ratio of the change gears amount of speed, lor in effect, the amount which sprocket |39 is retarded or advanced.

The power output for group A comprises two separate shafts 226, 220, the shaft 226 being driven by shaft 200 through chain 229 at a constant rate of speed. The shafts 226, 223 are connected in the same manner as shafts 2|2, 2|5 and this connection comprises a gear 221 which is mounted on the inner end of the shaft 226 and a fixed gear 225 mounted on the inner end of the shaft 228 which is normally stationary. Two circular plates 230, 23| are spaced apart and rigidly connected by three equally spaced pins 232. The plates 230, 23| enclose the gears 225, 221, the plate 23| being journalled on the shaft 226 and the plate 230 being journalled on the shaft 228. Carried on one of the pins-232 and free to revolve thereon are two gears 233, ,234

which are rigidly connected together, the gear 233 meshing withthe gear 225 and the gear 234 meshing with the gear 221. It will thus beseen from the foregoing that the sprocket wheel |26, which drives the sprocket wheel |23 feeds the material through the machine at aconstant speed and that by means of manual operation of the hand wheel 330 the gear 225 may be rotated to cause a momentary change of speed of sprocket |26 and, consequently, advances or retards the material being fed through group A.

The device .previously mentioned for advanci `ing or retarding the material as it is fed through the machine in order to position the printing 'is not necessarily a part of the multi-sizer but has,

for convenience, been incorporatedtherewith in thisinstance. I

It is evident that if the circumferential spac'- ing of the blades |03 (Figure 4) is say, 6". they must be retarded 4" to cut a l bag or advanced '2" to cut a 4"' bag.

From all of the foregoing, it will be evident that while the punching, bottom sealing and cutting operations are taking place, the gear 2|4 is stationary and the speed of rotation of group B willbe moving at the same speed as the material is caused to revolve one while, they are in contact `with it. Therefore, after each punching, sealing and cutting operation takes place, the gear 2 I4 is caused to rotate a given amount, and group B is therefore advanced or retarded as the case may be so that the several units will come in contact with'the v material again at the correct intervals. Thus. the pin 2|| actuates the wheel 201 and the gear 2|4 is caused to move once for each bag, and it is evident that with a constant speed of travel of the material, this must occur more frequently for short bags than for longer bags.

The bags are formed by the machine in the following manner. `Starting at the roll 23 it will be seen that the transparent material 33 passes over the roller 23; then between the rollers 3|, 32

and as previously described, the cut-out |55 is formed while the material is passing between the rollers 3|, 32. `After passing between the rollers 3|, 32, the material passes around the roller 39 back to the roller 24 andvthen to the rollers 40 and'4l. After passing the roller 4|, the transparent material travels underneath the triangular-shaped table 45, the material travelling in 213 will determine the The material the direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 2. 30 has a sliding contact with the underside of the table and its surface lies in a horizontal plane. At a point between the vertical rollers 42, 43 and due to the shape and position of the table 45 and the action of the vertical rollers 42, 43, the sheet material is folded in half and lies in a vertical plane with the two outside edges uppermost. After-passing between the rollers 42, 43 the material is drawn over the shaper 48 with one edge of the material overlapping the other edge, the two edges being in contact with the top 4l of the shaper, which is so shaped as to gradually fold the material so that it will lie in a horizontal plane with the two overlapped edges positioned centrally of the material and of the shaper. By the time the material has reached 'the sealing unit 65, the change from a vertical to a horizontal position has been completed and the material folded into a iiat tube, the two sides of which 'are separated by the shaper. Prior to leaving the shaper 4I, the sealing unit 65 seals the two overlapping edges together, the spring |14 holding the tube. against the sealing unit in the manner-hereinbefore described, and the material leaves the shaper as a flattened tube. It is pointed out that by this means a tube of any desired cross-section is formed from a fiat sheet in avery short distance but at the same time perfectly even tension is maintained in all parts of the material. This is important in the case of elastic materials. After leaving the shaper the folded material 3l passes over the non-rotatable roller $8 and underneath the roller I9. Due to the position of these two rollers and the fact that the roller Il is nonrotatable.

rollers 1|, 'I2 the sealing against the The sealing Since the apparatus which has been described is constructed for manufacturing different sizes necessary to describe the manner apparatus is adjusted. As the puncher carried by the roller I2, the sealer 18, the paddle III and the knives ill are syn'- chronised, and as they perform their functions simultaneously, it is n to have the amoimt and then between the roher. il and unit Il, the material being pressed adJusting the arm 22 through the medium of the crank Il to a position which will give the required amount of material between these two points. It is also apparent that it will be necessary to have the material between the sealer 1l and the deilnite number of bags. The sealer is spaced correctly with respect to the knives by raising knife cuts every bag bottom seal for every knives divisible exactly into a or lowering the sealer by means of the crank' Il. 'Ihe timing of the parts designated is`varied for diii'erent bag lengths by adjustment of the multi-sizer as previously explained.

The size of the cross section of the bag is varied by a vchange of the width of material and by substitution of other shapers 48 and plates 4'9-50.

'I'he means by which a gusset typ'e of bag is formed is shown in Figure 9 which is an elevation view of the Shaper. Located between the plates 49, 50 of the shaper are twothin, triangular plates |64, |65, which are closer together at the end adjacent, the end 59 of the Shaper than they are at their other ends. The plate A|65 is removably attached to member 52 by means of the arm |66 and the plate |64 is removablyattached l to the member 52 by means of the arm |61. The material, when passing over the shaper, will then have a fold formed in each side when it isl desired to produce-a gusset type of bag.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a bag making machine for the manufacture of bags from a roll of sheet material, a

plurality of rollers s for feeding said material through the said machine at a constant rate of speed, said rollers being drivenat a constant rate of speed, means for folding said material to form a continuous tube with-the edges of the material lapped, means for sealing the lapped edges of the tube together, rotating means for sealing thetube transversely at predetermined intervals to vform the bottoms of the bags, rotating means for cutting said tube into bags of a predetermined length, comprising a pair of cutting knives mounted diametrically opposite each other on a shaft rotated synchronously with said last mentioned sealingmeans, a rotatable roller, sheet material passing over said roller and presenting to said knives a surface against which said tube is cut, said material being of a density which will prevent the adhesion of the two adjacent edges formed by theknlfe, and means for moving said material atthe same rate of speed as the tube during the cutting operation.

2. In a bag making machine for the manufacture of bags from a roll of material, a plurality of rollers for feeding said material through the said machine at a constant rate of speed, said rollers being driven at a constant rate of 'speed and maintaining said material under a uniform tension, means for folding said material to form a continuous tube with the edges of the material lapped, means for sealing the lapped edges of the tube together, rotating means for sealing the tube transversely at predetermined intervals to simultaneously form the bottoms oi' two bags, rotating means for cutting said tube into bass of, a pre'- determined length,`comprising a pair of cutting knives mounted diametrically opposite eachother on a shaft rotated synchronously with said last mentioned sealing means, a rotatable roller, sheet material passing over said roller and'presenting to said knives a surface against which said tube is cut, said material being of a density which will prevent the adhesion of the two adjacent edges formed by-the knife, and means for moving said material at the same rate of speed as the tube during the cutting-operation.

3. In a bag making machine for the manu-A facture of bags from a roll of sheet material, a plurality of rollers for. feeding said material through the speed. said rollers being driven at a constant rate said machine at a constant rate of of speed, means for folding said material to form a continuous tube with the edges of the material lapped, means for sealing the lapped edges of the tube together, rotating means for sealing the tube transversely at predetermined intervals to form the bottoms of the bags, rotating means for cutting said tube into bags of a predetermined length, comprising a pair of cutting knives mounted diametrically opposite each other on a shaft rotated synchronously with said last mentioned sealing means, a rotatable roller, sheet material passing over said roller and presenting to said knives a surface against which said tube is cut, said material being of a density which will prevent the adhesion of the two adjacent edges formed by the knife, means for moving said material at the same rate of speed as the tube during the cutting operation and means retracting said material a distance less than the amount .of advance whereby a new surface is presented to the knives for each cutting operation.

4. In a bag making machine for the manufacture of bags from a roll of material, a plurality of rollers for feeding .said material through the said machine at a constant rate of speed, said rollers being driven at a constant rate of vspeed and maintaining said material under a uniform tension, means for folding said material to form a continuous tube with the edges of the material lapped, means for sealing the lapped edges of the tube together, rotating means for sealing the tube transversely at predetermined intervals to simultaneously form the bottoms of two bags, rotating means for cuttingv said tube into bags of a predetermined length, comprising a pair ofcutting knives mounted diametrically opposite each other on a shaft rotatedsynchronously with said lastmentioned sealing means, a rotatable roller, sheet material passing over said roller and presenting to said knives a surface against which said tube is cut, said material being of a density which will prevent the adhesion of the two adjacent edges formed by the knife, means for moving said material at the same rate of speed as the tube during the cutting operation and means retracting said material a distance less than the amount of advance whereby a new surface is presented to the knives for each cutting operation.

In a bag making machine for the manufacture of bags from a roll of sheet material, a plurality of rollers for feeding said material cutting of said tube and at a different rate of speed between said sealing and said cutting.

6. In a bag making machine for the manufacl ture of bags from 4a roll bf material, a plurality of rollers for feeding said material through the said machine at a constant rate of speed, said determined length, comprising a pair of cutting knives mounted diametrically opposite each other on a shaft rotated synchronously with said last mentioned sealing means, a rotatable roller, sheet material passing over said roller and presenting to said knives a surfaceagainst which said tube is cut, said material being of a density which will prevent the adhesion of the two adjacentedges formed by the knife, means for moving said material at the same rate of speed as the tube during the cutting operation, and means for rotating said last mentioned sealing means and said knives synchronously with said rollers during the formation of the transverse seal andthe cutting of said tube and at a different rate of speed between said sealing and said'cutting.

through the said machine at a constant rate of speed, said rollers being driven at a constant rate of speed, means for folding said material to form a continuous tube with the edges vff the material lapped, means for sealing the lapped edges of the tube together, rotating means fonsealing the tube transversely at predetermined-intervals to form the bottoms of the bags, rotating means for cutting said tube into bags of a predetermined length, comprising a pair of cutting knives mounted diametrically oprxisitey each other on ashaft rotated synchronously with said last mentioned sealing means, a rotatable roller, sheet y material passing over said roller and presenting to said knivesa surface against which said tube is cut, said material being of a density which will prevent the adhesion .of the two adjacent edges formed by the knife, means for moving said-'material at the same rate of. speed as the tube during the cutting operation. means for rotating said last mentioned sealing means and said knives synchronously with said rollers during the formation of the transverse seal and the tating means for ting said tube into bags ofa predetermined.

length, comprising a pair -of cutting knives mounted diametrically opposite each other on a shaft rotated synchronously with said last mentioned sealing means, a rotatable roller, sheet material passing over said roller `and presenting to saidrknives a surface against which said tube is cut, said materialbeing of .a .density which will -prevent the adhesion of the two adjacent edges formed by the knife, means for moving said material at ,the same rate of speed as the tube during the cutting/ operation, means retracting said material a distance less than the amount of advance whereby a new surface is presented tothe knives for each cutting operation, and meansfor rotating said last mentioned sealing means and said knives synchronously with said rollers. during the formation of the transverse seal and vvthe cutting of said tube and at a different rate of speed between'said sealing and, said. cutting.

8. In a bag making machine for the manufacture of bags from aroll of material, a plurality of rollers for feeding said material through the said machine at a constant rate of speed, said rollers being driven at a constant rate of speed and maintaining said material under a uniform tensio' a continuous tube with the edges ofthematerial lapped, means for sealing the lapped edgesy of the tube together, rotating means for sealing ,the tube transversely at predeterminedrintervalsto simultaneously form the bottoms of two bags, ro-

cutting said tube into bags of a means for folding said material to form predetermined length, comprising a pair of cutting knives mounted diametrically opposite each other on a shaft rotated synchronously with said last mentioned sealing means, a rotatable roller,

sheet materialpassing over said roller and presenting to said knives a surface against which said tube is cut, said material being of a density which will prevent the adhesion of the two adjacent edges formed by the knife, means for moving said material at the same rate of speed as the tube during the cutting operation, means retracting said material a distance less than the amount of advance whereby a new surface is presented to the knives for each cutting operation, and means for rotating said last mentioned sealing means and said knives synchronously with said rollers during the formation of the transverse seal and the cutting of said tube and at a different rate of speed between said sealing and said cutting.

9. In a machine for the manufacture of bags from material in the form of a continuous dat strip of thermoplastic material comprising means for continuously feeding said material and means for maintaining a relatively constant tension thereon, means for converting said at strip into a closed tube including a triangular table-like member having its apex approximate to and slightly below two vertically mounted rolls, a shaping member on the opposite side of said vertical rolls and having a tapered end extending therethrough approximate to the apex of said table-like member, means for overlapping the edges of said strip over said shaping member thereby vertical rolls and having a tapered end extending therethrough approximate to the apex of said table-likemember, means for overlapping the `thereby forming said strip into a. tube and a heatable sealing element in alignment with the overlapped edges ofsaid tube, rotatable cutting means'for cutting said tube into pieces of predetermined length and transverse rotatable sealing means for sealing one end of each piece and sealing means at the same rate of speed during the cutting and sealing operations and at diiferent rates ofspeed between the cutting and sealing operations.

l1. In a machineV for the manufacture of bags from material in the form of a continuous flat strip of thermoplastic material comprising means for continuously feeding said material and means for maintaining a relatively constant tension thereon, means for converting said iiat strip into a closed tube including a triangular table-like member havingits apex approximate to and Hslightly below two vertically mounted rolls, a

shaping member on the opposite side of said -apart sealed portion.

vertical rolls and having a tapered end extending therethrough approximate to the apex of said table-like member, means for overlapping the edges of said strip over said shaping member thereby forming said strip into a tube and a heatable sealing element in alignment with the overlapped edges of said tube, rotatable cutting means for cutting said tube into pieces of predetermined length and transverse rotatable seal ing means for sealing one end of each piece and means for rotating said rotatable cutting and sealing means at the same rate of speed during the cutting and sealing operations, and including roller elements preventing the adhesion of the open ends of said bags.

l2. In a machine for the manufacture of bags from material in the form of a continuous iiat strip of thermoplastic material comprising means for continuously feeding said material and means for maintaining a relatively constant tensioni,

thereon, means for converting said flat strip into a closed tube including a -triangular table-like member having its apex approximate to and slightly below two vertically mounted rolls. a shaping member on the opposite side of said vertical rolls and having a tapered end extending therethrough approximate to the apex of said table-like member, means for overlapping the edges of said strip'over said shaping member thereby forming said strip into a tube and a heatable sealing element in'alignment with the overlapped edges of said tube, means for said tube at predetermined positions including 'a transversely disposed roller having adjacent heatable edges projecting therefrom at right angles to the movement of the tube and means for cutting said tube in predetermined lengths including a roller having at least one knife edge projecting at right angles to the movement of y the tube and means for synchronizing the rotation of the cutting means'with the. rotation of the transverse sealing means.

13. In a machine for the manufacture of bags from material in the form of a continuous fiat strip of thermoplastic material comprising means for continuously feeding said material and means for maintaining a relatively constant tension thereon, means for converting said ilat strip into a closed tube including a triangular table-like member having its apex approximate to and slightly below two vertically mounted rolls, a

shaping member on the opposite side of said vertical rolls and having a tapered end extending therethrough approximate to the apex of said including a roller having at least one knife edge projecting at right angles to the movement oi said tube and means for correlating the movement of the tube and rotation of the transverse sealing and cutting means whereby the tube is cut between each of the adjacent sealed portions and substantially equidistant from each spaced HARVEY M. RUI'I'ER. 

